Can youthful vitality and glowing complexion really be found in what you eat? At Anand Medical Spa, I have long supported the connection between health, skin, and diet. But when it comes to getting the right amount and right types of foods, what should you eat to help the skin from within? Antioxidants, of course, top the list to fight the free radicals that cause inflammation, cell damage and disease.

In addition, listed below are some skin fixing foods for common skin problems:

Dry Skin
TRY adding oils to your diet. Walnuts, oily fish, wild caught salmon and flaxseed can add hydration and moisture to your skin cells from within. Avoid caffeine. It acts as a diuretic, as does alcohol.

Redness
TRY eating cucumbers, which are high in silica. Ayurvedic medicine believes in eating foods that cool the body from within and reduce inflammation. Cucumbers are amazing for this as well as foods high in zinc, essential to injury repair. You will find high levels of zinc in almonds, chickpeas and shellfish. AVOID alcohol, spicy foods and caffeinated beverages.

Oily/Acne Prone Skin
TRY adding probiotics to your diet, which will promote health flora in the body to fight inflammation and reduce acne. Foods high in Vitamin A and zinc will help reduce pore clogging oil production and the swelling associated with blemishes.
AVOID dairy products, like milk or yogurt, where hormones are used.

Insider Tip
Eating food with high water content, like cucumbers, can help reduce surface dryness. Water heavy foods penetrate the cells better than water alone and help to strengthen the cell membrane, which plumps skin and helps reduce fine lines.